Organizers

Organizers

Politics Reborn was founded by volunteers who came together while supporting Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign.

Donnie and Jo-Ann are two of the most experienced community organizers in southeast Queens. Their home in St. Albans, Queens, was used as a staging location for the Bernie 2016 Presidential Campaign. The Whiteheads were credited by the New York Times for helping Barack Obama win a majority in New York’s fifth congressional district in the 2008 Democratic Presidential Primary against Hillary Clinton. Donnie has sat on Politics Reborn board since it's conception while Jo-Ann has served as an advisor. It should be noted that Donnie is also the president of CommUnity 1st, a community organization in southeast Queens; JoAnn sits on the board of Directors for CommUnity 1st.

Blaire Fellows is an attorney and an activist. She uses her law degree to advance social justice and civil rights. In response to the voting irregularities in the 2016 Democratic Presidential Primary, Blaire co-founded Election Justice USA. Election Justice USA advocates for free and fair elections. As a result of Blaire’s work with the election integrity community, she filed a federal lawsuit against the New York State and City Boards of Elections concerning the 120,000 purged voters. Blaire was also the co-attorney on the Fochtman v. Coll case which redefined ballot access laws in New York State. Blaire Fellows is currently a partner at the Law Offices of Clarke and Fellows P.C., a small general practice law firm. She has sat on the Board of Directors for Politics Reborn since 2017.

Michael Blecher worked as a research assistant in several Psychology Research Labs before becoming a political organizer and activist. He canvassed in six states on behalf of the Bernie Sanders 2016 Presidential Campaign. He has written in OpEdNews and his work for the campaign has been covered in The Village Voice and Newsday. Michael is the chairperson of the Board of Directors and president of the organization.

Katherine Hawkland took a break from academia to organize for Bernie Sanders, and has been a campaign junkie ever since. She was a field organizer and canvass director for the Working Families Party, helping organize ground game for progressive candidates from Long Island to Connecticut. Most recently, she worked as the GOTV consultant for Our Revolution-endorsed candidate Christine Pellegrino. Despite the long odds, Katherine was able to help Christine emerge victorious in a Republican district that previously went to Donald Trump in the 2016 Presidential Election. Katherine currently sits on the Board of Directors for Politics Reborn. She is also one of the organization's staff members.

Al Ronzoni brings nearly twenty years of both political and academic experience to the table. He has worked on numerous campaigns as a petitioner, canvasser, fundraiser, writer, blogger, researcher, campaign manager, treasurer and strategist. In addition, he has served as a Speaker in the Humanities and Scholar Facilitator for Humanities New York and is a past president and board member of the Greater Astoria Historical Society. He has sat on the Board of Directors for Politics Reborn since 2017.

Max Kurant was one of the top youth organizers with the Bernie Sanders campaign in Queens. He committed countless hours to flyering, petitioning, and canvassing. Max also served as the Deputy Director of High School Outreach in the State of New York with the Sanders’ campaign. Most recently, Max took on a leadership role in organizing his high school to successfully replace their incredibly unpopular principal. His work as an activist has been covered in the Queens Tribune. Max volunteers for Politics Reborn and is the founder of Politics Reborn first High School Club at Townsend Harris.

Nina Sherwood is a community organizer and activist who has led a fierce group in her hometown of Stamford, Connecticut. She was a delegate for the Bernie Sanders 2016 Presidential Campaign and hosted various organizes rallies for Brand New Congress. She is very passionate about environmental and animal rights, and is currently working to assure the state of Connecticut puts a ban on fracking. She was recently elected to sit on the Stamford Board of Reps. Nina is currently a staff member for Politics Reborn.